Plateau shop owner blames borough for lost sales

A Montreal business owner who shut down her store this week is blaming what she calls the Plateau Mont-Royal's anti-car agenda on plummeting sales.

Moov Design owner Line Brunel says she lost 25 per cent of her business after the Plateau Mont-Royal enacted new parking restrictions on Mont-Royal Avenue and turned nearby Christophe-Colomb Avenue into a one-way street.

She said the borough's anti-car agenda and changes to the traffic flow are driving local shops like hers out of business.

The storefront of her eco-friendly clothing store is now empty except for a sign that sarcastically states: "Thank you for cutting access to the Plateau and destroying the unique character that drew people to the avenue."

Another sign sincerely thanks clients for all their years of support.

For now, Brunel will operate her business out of her home in the suburbs. She said she had no choice but to abandon the shop.

The owner of Ekkip, a sporting goods store near Brunel's old shop, is also worried about losing business. Martin Lavigne says he's trying his best to keep his doors open.

"The people who live in the Plateau now are very frustrated," he said, adding he and other merchants are actively lobbying against the re-election of the borough mayor, Projet Montréal's Luc Ferrandez.